AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

"A new phase of the crime of cattle stealing was made known to the unitiated," says the Yass
Courier, "at the Goulburn Sessions held last week. A woman well advanced in years, named Slaven,
whose husband was represented to be a very infirm old man, was charged with stealing three hides.
The owner of the beasts from which these were taken deposed to be the owner of some hundred and
odd cattle, several of which were in a very poor and weakly condition, that he found some of them
hamstrung, and with their heads battered in by some blunt instrument, and their hides taken off.
He recognised the beasts as his property by the head and ear marks, and had missed them from
amongst his herd. When the police went to the prisoner's place she denied having any hides, but on
search being made six were found concealed, including the three that were the subject of the
trial, and which bore the brands of the prosecutor. The defence set up was that the animals from
which they had been taken were found dead in the bush, a defence which, were it even proved to be
true, would net avail the prisoner. But the examination of the carcases determined that death had
been a violent one. The prisoner was convicted, and sentenced to three years' imprisonment in
Darlinghurst Gaol."